The Produce Prescription (Rx) Program* is a county-wide Food as Medicine Initiative provided to eligible participants. Produce Rx is a partnership between the public health department, healthcare systems, and food retailers.
Produce Rx works to help foster healthier eating habits to prevent and manage chronic diseases while improving nutrition security. It provides a tool for healthcare professionals to refer their patients to receive nutrition education and financial incentives to purchase fresh vegetables and fruits.
Produce Rx is a partnership with Marion County Public Health Department, Community Health Network, Eskenazi Health Center, Jane Pauley Community Health Center, and Solutran. Results are showing improvement in food security, increased consumption of fruits and vegetables (nutrition security), better understanding of how to shop healthier on a budget among the cohort who participated, and improvements in A1c levels.
Through our partnership with Solutran, in May 2021, the program transitioned to electronic benefits called Healthy Savings that participants can spend at Kroger, Walmart and our local Safeway Food Stores. The Marion County Public Health Department continues to engage with partners and stakeholders to expand retailer redemption sites, along with reaching more Federally Qualified Health Centers and Community Health Centers in Marion County.
Produce Rx is referral based through participating clinics within the healthcare systems Community Health Network, Eskenazi Health Center, and Jane Pauley Community Health Center.
For more information and opportunities for Produce Rx, please contact us.
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Marion County Public Health Department
3838 N. Rural Street,
Indianapolis IN 46205
Phone: 317-221-5746
Email: Freshbucks@marionhealth.org
Fresh Bucks and Produce Rx is made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Program and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program. The Marion County Public Health Department, Chronic Disease Department is the central administrator of Fresh Bucks and Produce Rx throughout Marion County.
